Grating structure



June 16, 15542. G. G. .GREULlcH 2,286,204

GRATI'NG STRUCTURE Filed' Nov. 15, 1959 FIG. 1'.

l0 Imam?? 655ML@ @ee-UL /c/v Patented June i6,

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRATING s'rRucTURE Gerald G. Greulich, Mount Lebanon, Pa. Application November 15, 1939, Serial No. 304,605

(ci. 18s-s2) I 2 Claims.

This invention relates to grating structures. and more particularly to those 'which are constructed and arranged to function as open bridge decks or heavy duty floors. In devices of this type the open'grating structure directly supports the load imposed by the trame, provides increased traction, and is easily kept clean. For the sake of both. durability and appearance, it is desirable that such grating structures be galvanized.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel and inexpensive grating structure which is capable o f functioning as a highly efficient open bridge deck or heavy duty floor.

The foregoing and other objects' will be apparent after referring to the drawing, in which: v`Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of the ,device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line III- III of Figure 2;' i y Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan illustrating the preferred manner of assembling several units of the device of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification'.

the bars could be readily reversed so Ithat the ends of the main carryin'gbars 5 would be below the upper edges of the cross members 2.

According to the teachings of the present invention, the' cross 'members 2 are connected'to each other by means in addition to the main carrying members 5, the said means comprisinga series of U-shaped members lll having their open ends bent oppositely at right angles, as shown at i2.

Referring more particularly to .Figure-` 1, the right-angularly' bentends i2 of each of the U- shaped members ID are abutted against the face of one of the, cross members 2 which is opposite the direction of extension of the' right-angular end portions 3 thereof and electrically pressure-A Welded, as shown atA I4. 'The base or bottom of each of the U-shaped members I0 is abutted against the face of a cross member 2 which is most adjacent the right-angularly bent end portions 3 thereof and electrically pressure-Welded thereto, as shown at i6.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be note that the upper'edges of the U-shaped members l0, which are designated 'hereinafter as filler members, lie in a plane above the upper edges of Referring moreiparticularly to the drawing, I

the numeral 2 designates a plurality of cross members, each of which comprises a metallic bar having its ends bent at right angles, as shown at 3. As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 2,

the crossl members/2/are rectangularl in section and, therefore, may be readily rolled and subsequently bent in the manner shown.

A plurality of cross members12` are assembled in parallelism and with their right-angularly bent end portions 3 extending in the same direction. The rlght-angularly bent portions 3 of the cross members 2 are connected to main carrying members which are assembled in parallelism and designated hereinafter at 5. As shown in Figure 3, these main carrying members. 5 comprise rolled rectangular shapes having enlarged base members 6. In joining the right-angularly bent portions 3 of the cross members 2 to the main car- 1 rying members 5, the former are held against the l adjacent side faces of the upper ends of the' main carrying members 5 and electrically pressurewelded thereto, as shown at 1. Referring more. particularly to Figure 3, it will b'e `noted that the ends of the main carrying members 5 are permitted to extend upwardly beyond the upper edges .of the cross members 2, as shown at 8.. While this arrangement is shown, the position of l the cross members 2 and coextensive with the upper ends 8 of the main carrying 'members 5. While the preceding arrangement is shown on the drawing, the arrangement of the bars could be such that in Figures v2 and 3 the upper edges of the U-shaped members, or filler members,fcould lie in a plane below the upper edges of the cross members 2. Such construction provides for increased traction.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5,v it will be noted that those portions of the adjacent side faces 'of the main carrying members 5 to which the cross members 2 are welded are provided with ribs 9 to provide for increased efficiency during Welding and greater strength after the wel/ding operay -cross members 2. Such lugs 20 providefor protection in case of breakage of onelof the welds 1 connecting the cross member 2 with the main carrying members 5..

The ribs 23 on the upper faces of bars 22 are Aprovidedto facilitate pressure Welding'of the bars 22 to the bottoms of the main carrying members 5. There are no recesses 24 provided in the enlarged bottom portion 6 for-the main carrying members. The ribs 2l are mashed or pressed into the enlarged bottom portions l of the main carrying members when the metal is softened and,

brought to a welding temperature by theelectric pressure welding method. These bracing bars 22 are provided at mid-point or third-points of span of the mainvcarrying members.

Referring to Figures 1 and'4, it will be noted that the main carrying members 5 are connected on both sides to cross members 2, but that the entire angularly bent portions 3 of the next adjatures provide for further increased strength.

The device of the invention enables the full section of all members for load carrying availability. The grating structure uses no holes whatever and each of the individual instrumentalities thereof isa rolled shape. All of the welds are of the electric pressure type, not only providing for low cost per intersection coupled with high speed of production, but eliminating slag or chemical deposits `at the welds which might be dimcult to remove'by pickling or which might interfere with the subsequent galvanizing operation.

The featureof the vutilization of the full cross section of the component partsl of the grating structure to carry loads or stresses is especially I claim:

1. A grating structure for open bridge decks and the like comprising. 1n combination, a plurality of primary members arranged in parallelism, a plurality of parallelsubstantially horizontally disposed U-shaped secondary members, the legs Aof said secondary members being securedto D' said primary members. and a plurality of horizcntally disposed U-shaped tertiary members,

. cent series of cross members 2 extend in the s opposite direction and also that the welds 1 are not directly opposed to eachother. These feaimportant in the case of the main carrying members 5 where a big reduction for the effective area does not have to be made on account of openings. The device of the invention is extremely flexible in assembly, permitting variations in width of units without introducing cost complications.

While I have shown and described several specinc embodiments of the present invention, it will be seen that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modincations may be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention, as defined by the following claims.

said tertiary members being similarly disposed and aligned with respect tb each other and provided at the ends of the legs thereof withrlghtangular iianges which are. secured to said sec'- ondary members. said primary mem and said tertiary members having their upper edges occupying a common plane, the upper edges oi' said 'secondary members'being disposed below the cor- Ybers being-similarly disposed and aligned with respect to each other and provided at the ends of the legs thereof with right-angular flanges which are secured to said secondary members, said pri-l mary members and said tertiary members having their upper edges occupying a common plane. the upper edges of said secondary members being disposed below the corresponding edges of said primary y members and said tertiary members whereby the latter provide for increased traction.

amm) c+. GREUucH. 

